Vienna man charged with animal abuse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Vienna man was charged on Thursday in Maries County with animal abuse.

A no-bond warrant was issued for Stephen Dale Helton. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement was called to a home on Dec. 12 in the 30000 block of Highway 63 North after receiving a call from an investigator from the Humane Society of Missouri.

Helton allegedly told investigators that he fed his dog three times per day, though its food and water bowls were knocked over with no water present and “every bone in the dog’s body” being visible, the statement says.

The dog allegedly had a collar that was “cutting into” its neck and included two padlocks on a heavy duty chain, the statement says. The Maries County deputy wrote that he could see cuts on the dog, which included a “deep and opened wound on his neck,” and “it appeared to be losing hair.”

Helton was asked he would transfer ownership of the dog to the Humane Society and he agreed, the statement says. A case file from the Humane Society was completed on Feb. 11, court documents say.